p. 199 | All That is Needful by Mary J. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 21, 1865

All That is Needful.

By Mary J. Cottrell

“All that is needful, is to keep our own hearts right.” These were the words of a friend in speaking of the prevalence of crime in our land, and our unavoidable contact with unprincipled people; and they brought up a train of thought like this: Yes, all that is needful, is to keep our own hearts right, but this is a work not easily accomplished, a work which we are unable to do in our own strength. But there is one whose grace is sufficient, and he has said, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” This is a precious promise; and he is faithful to perform. May we ever feel the need of asking.

We are too apt to forget our need, too apt to trust to our own strength, to stop and dally with the tempter, when we should flee to Jesus and plead for strength and wisdom. And this is just what pleases Satan. If he can get us to trust in our own strength, he knows that he is sure of the victory. He is willing then that we should be Christians in name, he does not come to us with some great temptation by which to draw us from the narrow way; but instead, he will whisper, you are safe, you need not go to your closet just now, and thus try to flatter us, and make us think we have no need to ask. He well knows that if we do not ask we will not receive. Oh, let us pray earnestly for a deep sense of our need to ask.

MARY J. COTTRELL.

Ridgeway, N. Y.